Thompson refuses to drop mayoral bid after meeting with supporters

Bill Thompson, seen here voting Tuesday, promised to stay in the mayor's race despite mounting pressure for him to quit before a final vote count could determine if there would be a runoff between Bill de Blasio and himself.

Bill Thompson vowed to stay in the mayor’s race Thursday night despite mounting pressure to drop his bid before a runoff can be decided.

He made the statement after reportedly meeting with key supporters, including Congressmembers Gregory Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries and Charles Rangel.

According to unofficial results, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio received 40.3 percent of the vote in the primary Tuesday, just making it to the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Thompson, finishing second, received 26.2 percent.

Thompson has until midnight to withdraw, according to election law. If he quits after that deadline, the city will still need to hold a runoff.

Following the Thursday meeting, he reiterated the same promise he made on election night to wait until the vote count is finished, according to reports.

“There are still tens of thousands of ballots that remain to be counted,” Thompson told supporters Tuesday.

He was referring to the paper ballots that still need to be tallied, a process that is expected to take several days.

The city’s Campaign Finance Board, anticipating a runoff won’t be necessary, reportedly denied Thompson around $463,000 in public matching funds and de Blasio about $726,000.

As some urged Thompson to drop his bid, others threw their support behind de Blasio Thursday.

During a rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall yesterday, several leaders, unions and other groups endorsed him in the race.

They included the Working Families Party and former backers of Thompson and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn who finished third in the primary.